Career

Forest Services

The Indian Forest Service (IFS) is the Forestry service of India. It is one of the three All India Services of the Indian government, along with the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service. Its employees are recruited by the national government but serve under the state governments or Central Government.

Exam Schedule

Notification of Examination - February/March

Conduct of Examination - July

Age Limits

21-30 Years on 1st July of the year of examination.

Certain categories of persons as specified in the Notice are eligible for age relaxation.

Educational Qualification

A Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects namely, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or Forestry or Engineering of a recognized university or equivalent. Candidates appearing at their degree examination (with prescribed subjects) are also eligible to compete. Candidates qualifying on the result of the written part of the examination will be required to submit the proof of passing the requisite examination along with their detailed application form to be filled up at that stage.

Scheme of Examination

Written Examination

Interview for Personality Test

Written Exam

Paper I - General English - 300 Marks

Paper II - General Knowledge - 300 Marks

Paper III, IV, V & VI - Any two subjects to be selected from the list of optional subjects set out below. Each subject will have two papers. - 200 Marks for each paper.

Total marks for written examination - 1400 Marks.

List of optional subjects

Agriculture

Agricultural Engineering

Animal Husbandary & Veterinary Science

Botany

Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Forestry

Geology

Mathematics

Mechanical Engineering

Physics

Statistics

Zoology

Provided that the candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects :

1. Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering

2. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science

3. Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

4. Mathematics and Statistics

5. Of the Engineering subjects viz. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering - not more than one subject

Training

Selected candidates are sent for foundation training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussourie. This is followed by Forest Service-specific orientation at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy at Dehradun, with training on forest and wildlife management, soil conservation, surveying, Scheduled Tribes, and handling weapons.

After completing the academies, candidates go through a year of on-the-job field training in the state to which he or she is assigned. There is a probationary period three years during which they are posted as Assistant Conservators of Forests. On completion of this, and after a totalperiod of four years of service in the junior scale, officers are appointed to the Senior Time Scale and are entitled to be posted as the Deputy Conservators of Forests or Divisional Forest Officers in charge of districts/forest divisions.

Rank Structure

Range officer (RANGER)

Assistant Conservator of Forests

Deputy Conservator of Forests

Conservator of Forests (CFs)

Chief Conservator of Forests (CCFs)

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Addl.PCCFs)

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) - highest post in a State

Director General of Forests - highest post at Centre, selected from amongst the senior-most PCCFs of states.